Improvement in hoop-skirts



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEOPOLD SANDERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

4lMPFtOVENlENT IN HOOP-SKIRTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 4 3,7 I0, dated August2, 1864.

inner sides of the two front tapes ofthe same with the ends of a hoopattached to them 5 Fig. 3. a horizontal section of the same, taken inthe line w x, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresp nding parts in the severalfigures.

lthis invention relates to an improvement in th it class of hoop skirtsin which the hoops are allowed to expand and contract, and it consistsin having the two front tapes of the skirt provided with eyelets for thehoops to f pass through, whereby much friction is avoided in the workingor moving of the hoops, as well as abrasion of the working or movingparts av iided.

Hoop-skirts of this class have hitherto had the tapes through which thehoops pass provided with loops for the hoops to work in, and theseloops, as well as the covering of the hoops, soon become frayed andworn, and the hoops also are not allowed to work or move freely in thetapes, and the skirt consequently cannot adjust itself' with facility soas to eX- pand and contract freely. My invention fully obviates thesedifficulties.

To enable those skilled inthe art to fully understand and construct myinvention, I will proceed to describe it.

A A represent the two front tapes of a skirt; and B, the hoops of thelatter, which may be constructed of metal and covered in the usualway.These hoops are permanently attached to the back and side tapes, C, ofthe skirt, and the ends of each hoop are permanently secured to the.tapes A A', one end to each the ends of the hoops passing looselythrough the tape A or A', to which it is not attached. rIhis will beunderstood by referring to Fig. 2, in which the ends of a hoop are shownpermanently attached to the tapes at a, the end of the hoop which isattached to the tape A passing freely through tape A', and the end whichis attached to the tape A' passing loosely through the tape A. l

rlhe tapes A A' are provided with eyelets D, which may be constructedlof metal and secured in the tapes by bending their rims or flanges inthe same way that ordina-ry metal eyelets are secured in articles. .Theeyelets are arranged two side by sidein a transverse direction of thetapes A A', and the hoops pass through these eyelets, andare allowed towork or move loosely through them, thereby admitting of the freeexpansion and contraction ofthe skirt.

The loops which are now uscd for the hoops to pass through are made ofthe same material as the tapes, and they do not allow the hoops to workor move freely in them. Besides, they are liable to wear and give wayunder the abrasion caused by the moving or working of the hoops withinthem. v

I do not claim, broadly, an expanding and lcontractin g hoop-skirt, forthey have been prcviously invented. Neither do I claim, broadly, ahoop-skirt in which the ends of the hoops are made to overlap, for I amaware that this has been done by passing the hoops through pouchesformed in the back of the tapes, upon which last-named device myarrangement is an improvement; but

I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- An expandingand contracting hoop skirt having its front tapes, AA', provided witheyelets D for the hoops B to pass through, slibstantially as herein setforth.

L. SANDERS.

Witnesses:

O. D. MUNN, J. W. Gooi/113s.

